Travellers who arrived on Riverside Drive in Ham this morning have been issued with a legal request for them to they leave the site within 24 hours.

The unauthorised camp arrived today (3th March) at around 10am. As soon as the Council received reports of their arrival, officers and the parks enforcement contractor, Park Guard, were sent to visit the travellers to carry out a welfare check. Following this, they were issued with a legal eviction notice.

If the travellers do not depart the site before 4pm on Thursday 4th March, the Council will instruct bailiffs to enforce the eviction.

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee at Richmond Council, said:

"A small group of travellers have arrived in the borough. Council officers have acted swiftly to work with the relevant authorities to safely move them on as soon as possible.

"As soon as the travellers leave, we will inspect the area and ensure that any damage is repaired, and waste removed."